Robert frankest



(No Model.)

R. PRANKEN.

CAN OPENER.

Patented June 11,1895.

NITED STATES 'ATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT FRANKEN, OF PIOO HEIGHTS, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOWILLIAM L. JOHNSON, OF SAME PLACE.

CAN-OPENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 540,857, dated. June11, 1895.

Application filed March 12, 1894. Renewed January 8, 1895. Serial No.534,266. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, ROBERT FRANKEN, a citizen of the United States,residing at Pico Heights, in the county of Los Angeles and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCan-Openers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings,and to the letters of referencemarked thereon, which form a part of this specification; [5 4 Myinvention relates to improvements in can openers, and the object of myinvention is to produce a can opener which will open the can with aclean shear cut without danger of cutting-'the' contents and which canbe operated with ease and which will be of simple and inexpensiveconstruction and thus possesslthe requisites to render the devicepractica The invention consists of a can opener having double cuttingedges and other important features of construction substantially asherein disclosed.

Figure 1 represents a side elevation of the can-opener. Fig. 2represents an end or edge 0 elevation thereof. Fig.3 represents aperspective View of the device in operation to show the manner ofopening the can with the curved blade or cutting-edge, and Fig. 4.represents a similar view to show the manner of opening a can with thestraight blade or cutting-edge. Y

My improved can opener is of very simple construction and consistsbroadly of the handle A, the shank B fitting inthe handle and formedwith the vertical and substantially straight cutting-edge or blade 0,and the curved cutting edge or blade D. The shank is made from a flatpiece of metal and one side is beveled to form the cutting blade 0,which terminates in the entering point E.

From the other side of the point the shank is formed withthe in and outcurved edge F, and at the end of this curve the metalis bent at G, andthe curved cutting edge or blade D, is provided. This curved cuttingedge is for a certain distance parallel with the other or main part ofthe shank and at its point D, is offset as at D whereby when the curvededge is in operation the point will lie adjacent to the side of the canand will not cut the contents thereof, which is a point of meritespecially when meat is contained in the can. The upper part of the bendG is formed with a notch H, which bears upon the edge of the can whenthe curved cutting blade is in use 6:: and forms a fulcrum for saidblade.

The manner of using my device will be readily understood fromthedescription taken in connection with the drawings and in Fig. 3 it willbe seen that when the curved cutting edge'is in use the notch in thebend forms the fulcrum and the straight blade acts as a guide and itwill be seen in Fig.4when the straight edge is being used the heel ofthe curved blade acts asa fulcrum, and then the can can be opened by thecurved or vertical blade in a rapid and perfect manner without tearingthe metal or injuring the contents ofthe can.

I claim--- 1. Acan opener, consisting of the handle, the fiat shankconnected thereto, and having the vertical cutting edge or blade, andthe bend on the opposite side or edge of this blade terminating inacurved cutting edge or blade.

2. A can opener having the vertical cutting edge or blade terminating inan entering point, and the curved cutting blade arranged along side ofthe vertical blade and having its extremity ofiset from the verticalblade.

3. A can opener having the vertical blade or cutter on one edge, thebend or fulcrum above the end of the vertical blade formed with a notch,andthe curved blade parallel with the straight blade and formed withapointed end.

In testimony whereof I affix. my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT FRANKEN. Witnesses: 1

'1. A. SIMPsoN, O. H. BRIDGES.

